https://www.newpower.info/2019/04/reader-question-where-do-you-think-the-opportunity-for-public-ownership-exists-in-energy-and-where-might-it-be-beneficial/ Expert information for all those invested in the UK's energy future Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:08:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 https://www.newpower.info/2019/04/reader-question-where-do-you-think-the-opportunity-for-public-ownership-exists-in-energy-and-where-might-it-be-beneficial/#comment-60176 Dr Tony West Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:51:28 +0000 http://www.newpower.info/?p=6703#comment-60176 Public ownership often sounds like a logical thing to do, though in reality it stifles innovation and fails on business efficiency. The issues with our energy market are not ownership related but a failing market, where price signals are dampened or even restricted and not even supply/demand related. We need a proper study to understand what the real supply/demand underlying is – in my view it isn’t energy but capacity, though capacity is effectively centrally controlled and not subject to proper market mechanisms.

]]> https://www.newpower.info/2019/04/reader-question-where-do-you-think-the-opportunity-for-public-ownership-exists-in-energy-and-where-might-it-be-beneficial/#comment-60044 New Power Mon, 08 Apr 2019 16:05:24 +0000 http://www.newpower.info/?p=6703#comment-60044 It depends on what you mean by “Public” – are we talking about renationalisation (I seriously hope not); local authority (Hmmm, maybe) or community ownership (my preferred). Maybe because I live in a rural community. Rural areas historically lag behind cities (for reasons around population density & demand). It is probably much more expensive to maintain and deliver a reliable energy supply in rural locations (note to self to go and research this better) per consumer. So it makes sense to me to look at local schemes tailored for the location. I live about half way down a large hill, we have a burn that runs through the village and the side of the hill we are on faces south and south west. So, a small but efficient hydro scheme, coupled with a solar and wind setup, with battery storage making use of one of the derelict barns would be ideal. But how does or would a small rural community of say 60 households fund and finance such a scheme that will undoubtedly generate more energy than needed? I think the opportunity for public ownership would be most beneficial in rural areas but the economics of it, specifically access to funding to setup it would, probably make it a non starter for most rural communities, so maybe not the best.
Andy Corkhill
CapGemini

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